Corpus bags maiden title

ANTIPOLO — If pressure wasn’t supposed to matter in a title duel between cousins, Aidric Chan certainly didn’t act like it. He applied it relentlessly on Carl Corpus, pushing him to the brink from the opening holes of the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge at Valley Golf’s South Course.

But Corpus refused to break. Rising from an early stumble and steadying himself after a disastrous 39 on the front nine, he mounted a composed comeback marked by grit, precision and timely birdies. Two clutch conversions in his last four holes salvaged a one-over 73 — just enough to clinch a breakthrough three-stroke triumph and his maiden victory on the Philippine Golf Tour.

Corpus finished at 11-under 277, four shots clear of Chan, though the final margin belied the nerve-jangling duel that unfolded for most of the afternoon.

“This win means the world to me,” said Corpus, still soaking in the moment. “This is why we wake up, this is why we practice — this is why we do what we do, to be able to win.”

Comparing his first PGT victory to his Asian Development Tour breakthrough last year, he added:

“There’s no better feeling than winning, especially on your home course and in front of my family and friends. It truly means the world.”

Chan was unrelenting for much of the day, erasing Corpus’ lead with a fiery three-birdie stretch from No. 14 that pulled him into a tie at 10-under. With momentum swinging his way, it looked as though he had finally cracked the tricky South Course puzzle at the perfect time.

But the pressure flipped in an instant. A bogey on the par-4 17th halted Chan’s charge, and another miscue on the closing hole sealed his fate. He settled for a 72 and a 280 total, a sudden unraveling that ended what had been shaping up as one of the most compelling head-to-head finishes of the season.

The showdown was fitting for two of the country’s rising stars — fresh off back-to-back ADT victories in Morocco last June, a historic feat that thrust both into the spotlight. Their much-awaited home clash lived up to expectations until the final two holes.

While Chan faltered late, Corpus grew stronger. Under fire, he leaned on the mental fortitude and routines he sharpened during his collegiate stint at San Jose State University.

The defining moment came on the par-5 No. 17. With the pair tied at 10-under, Corpus unleashed a superb 239-yard hybrid that settled six feet from the pin, setting up a stress-free two-putt birdie.

“Yun ang pinaka-turning point,” Corpus said. “After that, I told myself, medyo okay na ako.”

Chan, meanwhile, misfired off the tee, found the rough with a 2-iron, and despite a bold attempt to fire at the pin, overshot his target and failed to save par.

Corpus refused to fault Chan’s aggressive play. “We always go for a win, no matter what happens next,” he said.

What initially looked like a two-man race briefly exploded into a wild multi-player chase. Jeffren Lumbo, amateur Bobe Salahog, Ferdie Aunzo and Clyde Mondilla all mounted serious charges.

Lumbo, fresh off a breakthrough playoff win at South Pacific, pulled even with Chan at seven-under with a frontside 34. Salahog stunned the elite field with a bogey-free five-under run through 11 holes to also reach seven-under. Aunzo, long out of the picture, suddenly shot into contention with a four-under performance through 12 holes. Mondilla, a first-day co-leader, stayed within reach as well with a steady mix of three birdies against two bogeys.

But one by one, the contenders faded as the pressure sharpened on the closing stretch.

Salahog bogeyed the 17th but still posted a superb 68 to secure solo third at six-under 282, earning low-amateur honors worth P40,000 in gift certificates.

Guido van der Valk, the third player in the final group, never recovered from two early bogeys and limped home with a 74 to finish tied for fourth.